In Plate XVI., fig. 1, is a side view of a plough, shewing the first method of applying the coulter. a, is a metal plate, which turns upon a bolt b, passed through the ploughbeam c; from this plate another plate d, projects, at right angles to it, having a dove-tail projection on its face, upon which the plate e, slides to or from the plough-beam. The front of the plate e, is made concave, to receive the stem of the coulter f, which is held in close contact with the plate, by the clamp g, when the screw h, which passes through the back of the clamp g, is turned, so as to abut against the plate d.

The distance of the coulter from the beam c, is regulated by moving the plate e, along the dove-tail projection on the plate d; and the coulter is adjusted to any required degree of inclination, by turning the screw i, which passes through the nut, and presses upon a projection of the plate a.

Fig. 2, shews another mode of fastening the coulter, which is similar, in many respects, to the preceding one; but, in this arrangement, the plate a, is dispensed with. On the plate d, an arm or bent plate k, is formed, which carries the plate l, with the slot m, in it; and through this slot, a bolt n, is inserted, to secure the apparatus to the plough-beam. Through the upper part of the plate l, the end of the screw i, passes, and rests upon the beam c; so that, by turning this screw, the plate l, will be raised or lowered, and the coulter adjusted to the required angle. The coulter is secured to the beam by means of the plate e, clamp g, and screw h, as before.

Fig. 3, is a side view, and fig. 4, a plan of another mode of securing the coulter. o, is a socket, (shewn detached in two views, at fig. 5,) which slides upon the plough-beam, and is fastened at any part of the same by its screw p. From the socket an angular-faced plate q, projects; and against this plate, the coulter is firmly held by the clamp r. The clamp r, consists of a plate, bent, at right angles, at top and bottom, and having two recesses s, s, formed therein; it is also furnished with two screws t, t, which have each an eye, to receive the stem of the coulter, and by means of

their screw-nuts u, u, draw it tightly against the angular face of the plate q. The inclination of the coulter is varied by screwing the upper or lower nuts more or less tight, and it is fixed on the plate q, at any required distance from the beam c, by the clamp r.

Fig. 6, represents the fourth method of applying the coulter, and fig. 7, is a side view of the socket used for that purpose. The socket v, slides upon the plough-beam, and is fixed at any part of the same by a screw, like the socket o, before mentioned. It has a projecting plate w, on which a plate e, with a concave face, moves, and serves, with the clamp g, and screw h, to secure the coulter to the beam. The socket v, by reason of its peculiar shape, is capable of rocking on the beam c, being retained, in any desired position, by its screw i; and by this means the inclination of the coulter is varied.

The fifth and last method of securing the coulter, is shewn in fig. 8. The coulter is fastened on any part of the beam c, by the clamp g, and screw h, and is caused to stand out at any angle therefrom, by the sliding plate x, formed with a groove in it to receive the stem of the coulter; the lower part of which plate is moved any required distance outwards from the beam, by two screws y ;-one only

is shewn.

The patentees claim, Firstly.-The modes, herein described, of applying coulters to ploughs, whereby they are enabled, by means of clamps and screws, to regulate the distance of the coulter from the beam, and also the angular position of the coulter, as shewn in figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Secondly. The mode of applying a coulter, shewn in fig. 8, whereby the coulter is caused to stand off at an angle, by means of the screws y, and plate x.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, February, 1841.]

TO DOWNES EDWARDS, of Surbiton-hill, Kingston, farmer, for improvements in preserving potatoes and other vegetable substances.-[Sealed 8th August, 1840.]

THIS invention consists in a method of operating upon potatoes, in order to preserve the same for a long period.

The potatoes are first cleansed from dirt, and boiled or steamed until their skins begin to crack; they are then stripped of their skins, the eyes and specks carefully picked out, and are placed in an iron cylinder. The cylinder is tinned on the inside, and perforated with a number of holes, one-eighth of an inch in diameter, through which the potatoes are forced, by the descent of a piston. The potatoepulp is then dried, by spreading it thinly upon hollow iron tables, which are heated, by steam, to from 100° to 160o Fahr. During the operation of drying, the pulp is well raked, and afterwards it is packed in casks, or other suitable vessels. The steam is supplied from a boiler, in which it is kept at a pressure of 10 lbs. to the inch, and the heat of the tables is varied by opening and closing the cocks upon the supply pipe; the heat being lowered as the potatoe approaches dryness.

The patentee claims the mode of preserving potatoes in a cooked or partially cooked state, by means of obtaining the substance of potatoes in a separated, or finely divided, and dried state.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, February, 1841.]

TO FREDERICK PAYNE MACKELCAN, of Birmingham, civil engineer, for certain improved thrashing machinery, a portion of which may be used as a means of transmitting power to other machinery.-[Sealed 1st October, 1840.]

THE first part of this invention consists in a combination of machinery, for communicating the power of a prime

mover, but particularly the power of horses, to the drum of a thrashing-machine, or similar apparatus.

This machinery is represented, partly in section, in Plate XVII., at fig. 1. a, a, is a framing, containing two shafts b, and c; on the shaft b, a spur-wheel d, is keyed, and at its upper end is a cross-head e, to which a beam or pole ƒ, is bolted, having at one end a counterpoise weight g, and at the other a hook h, to which the horse is attached. The spur-wheel d, takes into the pinion i, on the shaft c, and thus communicates motion to a large pulley j, on the lower end of this shaft. Around the pulley j, an endless band k, is passed; it thence proceeds through wooden troughs 7, under the horse-path, to the machinery required to be driven. The pulley j, is not keyed on its axis, but is carried round with it by a ratchet-wheel and pall, at m, when the prime mover is acting in the proper direction; but when that action is reversed or stopped, the pulley and its shaft are permitted to move independently of each other.

A modification of this horse-engine is described, wherein the large pulley is placed within the framing a, a, instead of below it.

The second improvement consists in a mode of connecting the concave surface, commonly called the "bed," to the framing of a thrashing-machine.

Fig. 2, is a section of a thrashing-machine. n, is the feeding table; o, the drum, which is formed by fixing two metal discs p, on a shaft q, near its ends, and then bolting to each disc the arms r; the outer ends of these arms are connected together by the bars or beaters s, and the drum is finished by nailing on the boards t.-u, is the bed, on the under surface of which the fluted iron plates v, are fastened; it is attached to the frame of the machine by the hinge w, in such a manner, that a line drawn from, and parallel to, the part *, of the hinge, will be a tangent to the centre of the arch formed by the concave fluted surface of the bed. The distance of the fluted plates v, from the drum, is regulated by two screws x, which pass through a part of the bed, and rest on the feeding table.

The corn is fed into the mouth of the machine, and,

after being carried along the fluted surface of the bed, by the beaters s, is thrown out upon the floor. If, by chance, too large a quantity of corn, to be passed through the ordinary space between the bed and the drum, is introduced, the bed rises upon its hinge, and allows it to pass.

When thrashing unbound grain, such as barley, the patentee uses a cylinder and bed, studded with large-headed nails, instead of the drum o, and bed u, above described.

The third improvement consists in the application of a broad endless band, as a substitute for the ordinary feedingtable.

This band passes round two rollers, one at the mouth of the machine, and the other at the end of the feeding-table. The first-mentioned roller is driven by a strap from the drum-shaft, and communicates motion to another roller above it. The corn being deposited upon the endless band, is carried forward by it, and delivered by the rollers into the machine.

The patentee claims, Firstly.-The horse-engine.

Secondly.-Hinging the bed of the thrashing-machine in the line of tangent to the centre part of the concave.

Thirdly. The endless band, as a moving feeding-table. Fourthly. The cylinder and bed, studded with largeheaded nails. [Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, April, 1841.]

TO WILLIAM COOPER, of Layham, Suffolk, iron-founder, for an improved method of constructing thrashing machines, and other agricultural instruments.—[Sealed 21st January, 1841.]

THIS invention, the specification of which is not illustrated by drawings, consists in an arrangement of mechanism for driving thrashing machines, chaff-cutting machines, and mealing mills.

It is applied to thrashing machines, as follows:-Through the machine a horizontal shaft extends, parallel to the shaft that carries the beaters, having upon one end of it a